Jett Woo grew up as a Moose Jaw Warrior, but he won't be finishing his WHL career in a Warriors jersey.

The Moose Jaw Warriors pulled off a blockbuster deal on Thursday morning at the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft, sending the 19-year-old Vancouver Canucks prospect to the Calgary Hitmen in exchange for two players and three picks.

"I was told about [the trade] Wednesday night, but it was shocking to see it actually happen, but at the same time, I'm excited to be joining the Hitmen," Woo told DiscoverMooseJaw.com on Thursday after the trade.

Woo played 178 games over three seasons with the Warriors. He posted career-highs with 12 goals and 66 points in 62 games during the 2018-19 season.

He said it's impossible to put into words what playing in Moose Jaw meant to him, "I remember being drafted when I was 14 years old, showing up to my first prospect camp, playing my first game at 15 to playing my first season, so I'm so grateful for this organization and what they've done for me," said Woo.

"I've got a lot of memories and friendships that are going to last a lifetime."

Newly acquired Ryder Korczak in action with the Calgary Hitmen last season. (Photo: Candice Ward / Calgary Hitmen)

For the Warriors, the trade was about resetting the team's roster after pushing for a WHL championship over the past few seasons.

In the deal, Moose Jaw added 16-year-old forward Ryder Korczak from Yorkton, hard-nosed 20-year-old defenceman Vladislav Yeryomenko, the 11th overall selection in this year's draft, a conditional third round pick in 2020 and a second round pick in 2021.

Warriors general manager Alan Millar said that this trade was one of the most difficult decisions he had to make during his time with the team.

"Sometimes we have to make very difficult decisions and we've made a number of difficult decisions over the last several years in an attempt to win a WHL championship, we didn't get it done but we've given up significant assets, the [Kale] Clague deal in particular," said Millar. "Somewhere along the way, we've got to start the process of recouping those assets and building the next team that can contend."

With a young roster heading into next season, there was the expectation that the Warriors would look at trading Woo at some point before the WHL Trade Deadline.

Millar said this deal was too enticing for them to wait, especially with the possibility of Woo missing a good chunk of time at the start of the season with the Canucks and World Juniors.

"This deal got us into the first round and we felt this deal was as good as anything we could get in December or January, plus it got us the 11th overall pick," said Millar.

"When I look at our team next year, we're going to be very young, we'll be competitive, exciting to watch but we are going to be young, the transition starts next year in terms of building around a younger group."

Vladislav Yeryomenko had seven goals and 33 points in 63 games with the Hitmen in 2018-19. (Photo: Candice Ward / Calgary Hitmen)

Korczak will fit nicely into the age group with 17-year-old Brayden Tracey and Daemon Hunt, who was also born in 2002. The Yorkton product had eight goals and 15 points in 50 games with the Hitmen during his 16-year-old season.

"He's a good, young player, we really like his hockey sense, we like his skill, he's smart, plays the game the right way and comes from a good hockey family," said Millar. "Really excited to add Ryder."

Yeryomenko, a fifth round pick of the Nashville Predators, will bring a physical edge to the Warriors back-end as well as some veteran leadership for the young group.

"We're not real deep in terms of 20-year-olds and we believe we have some options with our import players," said Millar. "He's a veteran guy and has a lot to play for, he takes the pressure off moving a guy like Jett."

The Warriors used the 11th overall pick to add another highly touted Manitoba defenceman to their organization, drafting Denton Mateychuk from Dominion City. He had 23 goals and 61 points in 36 games with the Eastman Selects Bantam AAA team. Click here for more on the bantam draft.